In 1917 Vladimir Lenin introduced a new slogan to the Russian people, “Power to the Soviets.” These words instill such passion in normal, everyday people that they were inspired to stand up for themselves against a tyrannical system. Before analyzing what this means as a slogan, it is necessary to share its history. According to Lenin, when this slogan was unveiled, power was divided, voluntarily, between the Soviets and the Provisional Government. The Soviets were “delegations of the mass of the free,” which meant they were not susceptible to corruption. (Lenin, 62) Obviously, the next step in their revolution is to transfer political power to the Soviets, to the people. So, they come up with a slogan that can provide strength to this movement, and it spreads like wildfire. Unfortunately it didn't work, more on that later. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "Power to the Soviets!" What does this mean? The answer cannot be summed up simply, but Lenin conveys the message spectacularly: “Power to the Soviets means the complete transfer of the administration and economic control of the country into the hands of the workers and peasants, whom no one would dare to oppose. resistance and that through practice, through their own experience, they would soon learn how to properly distribute lands, produce and grain” (Lenin, 112) Lenin captures the idea beautifully, and it sounds strangely similar to a utopia. He goes on to describe a world in which they would give “land to the peasants and full power to the local peasant committees.” (Lenin, 112). field, along with everyone else. Lenin understood that the working class learns from experience, especially from the experience of adversity. The only way a revolution, which is still in its early stages with a small group of devoted supporters, can become a raging fire in a country is to win the favor of the masses. How is it done? Participate in daily struggles with them, demonstrate that you are among them, push slogans and ideologies on them in the face of adversity and simply explain and educate them that there is a need for reforms if they want to improve their situation. Lenin realized that moving away from the left could potentially scare people, who could be revolutionaries, away from their cause. He knew that standing on the street corner and shouting for civil war and revolutions would only drive people away, so he created a slogan that was easy for everyone to understand. Anyone who is actually informed about the Russian Revolution knows that this is the central slogan of Lenin and other revolutionaries. But many are confused by its meaning. Does it mean: civil war? An attempt by the Bolsheviks to claim total power? Lenin's mission to establish himself as supreme dictator? No, none of these. Contrary to popular belief (and the general impression one gets from history) Lenin and the Bolsheviks wanted a peaceful revolution. As mentioned above, the only method to induce this situation is to control the will of the masses. This was the true intent of the slogan. According to Lenin, the two nuclei of a revolution are theory and practice. Revolutionary theory provides revolutionaries with confidence, knowledge, and the understanding that you are strong and that your will matters. While revolutionary practice is the ability to discern in which direction classes are and will move, it also allows revolutionaries to act according to the impulses provided by theory. Because without theory, practice is just action without thought. Which is, probably, more destructive than thinking without action. It was Lenin who declared “Without a theory.
tags